Historic Trolley Tour of Whitinsville
As a current resident of Whitinsville and fan of all things Blackstone River Valley, I’m always looking for ways to learn more about the area. When I heard that local historian Ken Warchol was presenting his final Historic Trolley Tour of Whitinsville dressed as Paul Whitin, I booked right away. The ninety-minute tour took place last Saturday, May 18, 2024, beginning at 9:00 a.m., with three more tours happening throughout the day. While the weather was rainy, the atmosphere was upbeat.
I had previously learned some of the information on the tour from watching the winter webinar series Parked at Home hosted by the National Park Service, visiting quick history stops in Whitinsville, and taking a Ranger Walkabout tour last summer. However, this tour was longer and more extensive than these other events. I was amazed by Warchol’s breadth of knowledge and ability to speak with no break for nearly the entire time.
The tour began inside the James Fletcher Homestead, now housing the Northbridge Historical Society, who hosted the event. Warchol gave an overview of the Whitin family and town history for about twenty minutes before the group headed to the trolley. Stopping briefly on the bridge, Warchol described the progression of mill buildings constructed by the Whitin family, from the tiny Old Brick Mill (now part of Alternatives), the granite Cotton Mill (now apartments), and Whitin Machine Works (now housing a wide array of businesses. Warchol reminded visitors that Town Hall was built by the Whitins and adjoined the mill, physical proof of how the family ran the town.
The trolley then crossed Linwood Avenue and went up Hill Street and passed the Whitin Community Center, Gustavus Taft Mansion (now Carr Funeral Home), and the burned remains of Chester Lasell Mansion. Once outside the Historical District of Whitinsville, Warchol pointed out the E. Kent Swift Estate, now part of St. Camillus Health Center. The trolley passed the site of the Old Cemetery, which once bordered the first Northbridge Meeting House, now the site of a water tower, and turned around in the parking lot beside an early Congregational church, now belonging to a different denomination.
For the second half of the trolley tour, we cruised down Linwood Avenue seeing more churches per capita than any other town in Massachusetts according to Warchol. The Homestead of Paul Whitin, once on the spot where the Town Hall now stands, is now a duplex. Other notable homes on the route included the mansions of Arthur Whitin and B.L.M. Smith, the original Methodist Hall where Betsey Fletcher Whitin advocated for temperance, and the restoration-in-progress of the James F. Whitin Mansion, also called The Victorian. Along the way, we passed the Gothic Revival style Northbridge Middle School that was originally built as a high school; Pine Grove Cemetery where the Whitins and many town residents are buried; and Linwood Mill, now apartments and small businesses.
Even with my extensive knowledge of the area, I learned more fun history facts about Whitinsville and greatly enjoyed the experience. I even received a beautifully drawn map of the Historical District of Whitinsville supported by the Northbridge Historical Commission (NHC). The map included information on thirty-eight stops, so I might revisit the route whenever I want. Congratulations to Ken Warchol on his “retirement” from trolley tours! I look forward to what Northbridge Historical Society has in store for future programs.